Clover Studios (AKA Viewtiful Okami creators) dead...

Regulus Tera · 10-12-2006, 06:16 PM

Sad, Sad news indeed...

Quote:

As of today, the studio behind Viewtiful Joe, Okami and God Hand is no more. Clover Studio was shuttered by main shareholder Capcom. At a Board of Directors' meeting was held, and it was decided that Clover should dissolved. The reason? According to the Capcom IR release:

"Clover Studio Co., Ltd. has met the goal of developing unique and creative original home video game software, however, in view of promoting a business strategy that concentrates management resources on a selected business to enhance the efficiency of the development power of the entire Capcom group, the dissolution of Clover Studio Co., Ltd. has been raised and passed at a Board of Directors' meeting."

The studio was established on July 1, 2004 and takes its name, "clover," from an abbreviation of "creativity lover." Under president and CEO Atsushi Inaba and Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami, the studio turned out a handful of inventive titles that were anything but mainstream. Sales, unfortunately, reflected that, and Capcom management took action. It's okay to love creativity, just don't expect it to turn a profit. Clover Studio will be officially liquidated March 2007.

It really angers me that such a talented studio gets shut down. I was under the idea that Viewtiful and Okami were succeses... so much for Okami on the Wii, I think.

lazy man · 10-12-2006, 07:14 PM

Ya know, I honestly thought this wasn't true at first, but seeing all these official reports...

Well, fuck. And here I thought they would keep going. I mean, Okami and Viewtiful Joe were both amazing...

Gah, and here I was thinking about how Capcom is a really great company recently. Then they drop this on us? Ya know what, FUCK Capcom.

...except for Devil May Cry. That's their biggest thing, in my opinion.

Lockeownzj00 · 10-13-2006, 02:14 PM

Lame. Big business rapes art in the ass again for economic reasons :/ Story of life, I suppose.

Mirai Gen · 10-13-2006, 02:59 PM

Okay, what the hell?

How can numbers tell them 'Shut down the company that made these terrific games, which are currently getting great reviews and high sales?"

Dwarfburg citizen · 10-13-2006, 03:16 PM

Okami was a huge flop sales wise in Japan. God Hand is getting mixed reviews (IGN= 3.0, gamespot = 8.0) Ive only played VJ on the cube and all I can say is that the damn thing has had a permanent place on the disc tray since its release.

Raiden · 10-13-2006, 03:24 PM

But....but....I wanted Okami 2....

Grandmaster_Skweeb · 10-13-2006, 03:36 PM

My view of it all is Capcom loves cranking out franchises. These games? Not really much room for puking out a sequal, a third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, a seventh, an eighth installation of the series. No continuation = no love from capcom.

This is why I'm really starting to loathe capcom lately.

Mike McC · 10-13-2006, 03:39 PM

Reading into it, it seems that Capcom is merely dissolving the company, but bringing the team within Capcom major. So, it's more like Clover will be completely absorbed, it'll no longer be a seprate studio. Speculations say that the franchises made by Clover will probably continue, only fully through Capcom (Not that'll be different, Clover was 100% Capcom owned).

Quote:

Originally Posted by IGN

The developer behind some of the most critically acclaimed titles of this generation will be closing its doors for good following a three year run. Capcom announced today that it has decided to dissolve Clover Studios, the wholly owned subsidiary responsible for Viewtiful Joe and, most recently, Okami.

As reason for this unexpected move, Capcom cited a desire to improve its overall development structure.

Clover will close its doors by March of 2007. As a result of the dissolution, Capcom will include a 400 million yen special loss on its earnings statement for the year ending that month.

The company has yet to make clear what will happen to the franchises that emerged from the studio during its short run. Seeing as how Clover was wholly owned by Capcom, we expect to see more from Viewtiful Joe and Okami from the publusher in the future, only minus the Clover name.

Source

Please, give these companies some credit. They weren't founded yesterday.

Mirai Gen · 10-14-2006, 01:23 PM

Oh. Phew.

And why do you say Okami didn't do well in japan?

lazy man · 10-14-2006, 01:54 PM

I read that in an EGM Afterthoughts article and was wondering that, too. I think it was because the whole Japanese mythology thing didn't do so well in the public over there. I need to read that article again...

But, yeah, big relief there. Shows what happens when normal people read business language and start saying things right away, though. BIG confusion just because of the terms used.

Still, I'm gonna miss the Clover logo. I always liked that little thing...

10-13-2006, 02:59 PM	#4
Mirai Gen We are Geth. Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 14,032	Okay, what the hell? How can numbers tell them 'Shut down the company that made these terrific games, which are currently getting great reviews and high sales?" __________________

10-13-2006, 03:16 PM	#5
Dwarfburg citizen Thinking profoundly... Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: In the cave that is my room Posts: 241	Okami was a huge flop sales wise in Japan. God Hand is getting mixed reviews (IGN= 3.0, gamespot = 8.0) Ive only played VJ on the cube and all I can say is that the damn thing has had a permanent place on the disc tray since its release. __________________ NPF Zombie Horde: The nonsensical juggler / Unintimidating member of the Horde

10-14-2006, 01:23 PM	#9
Mirai Gen We are Geth. Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 14,032	Oh. Phew. And why do you say Okami didn't do well in japan? __________________

10-14-2006, 01:54 PM	#10
lazy man Harrumph! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: My not-so-humble abode Posts: 2,891	I read that in an EGM Afterthoughts article and was wondering that, too. I think it was because the whole Japanese mythology thing didn't do so well in the public over there. I need to read that article again... But, yeah, big relief there. Shows what happens when normal people read business language and start saying things right away, though. BIG confusion just because of the terms used. Still, I'm gonna miss the Clover logo. I always liked that little thing... Last edited by lazy man; 10-14-2006 at 01:57 PM.

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10-12-2006, 07:14 PM	#2
lazy man Harrumph! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: My not-so-humble abode Posts: 2,891	Ya know, I honestly thought this wasn't true at first, but seeing all these official reports... Well, fuck. And here I thought they would keep going. I mean, Okami and Viewtiful Joe were both amazing... Gah, and here I was thinking about how Capcom is a really great company recently. Then they drop this on us? Ya know what, FUCK Capcom. ...except for Devil May Cry. That's their biggest thing, in my opinion.

10-13-2006, 03:24 PM	#6
Raiden Just a passing through veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: On your couch. Yes? Posts: 5,327	But....but....I wanted Okami 2....

10-13-2006, 03:36 PM	#7
Grandmaster_Skweeb Doesn't care anymore Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 2,429	My view of it all is Capcom loves cranking out franchises. These games? Not really much room for puking out a sequal, a third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, a seventh, an eighth installation of the series. No continuation = no love from capcom. This is why I'm really starting to loathe capcom lately.